S. B. Howell

Hello! I’m Sayre Browne Howell. I’m genderfluid and use they/them pronouns.

I’m a writer and editor based in the San Francisco Bay Area who’s been book review blogging since graduating UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Literature in 2013.

Some of my favorite genres are literary, horror, fantasy, science fiction, and memoir. I tend to like books that are on the challenging side. I respect fluffy books, but I’m a slow reader so I find density more rewarding. I will read fluff occasionally and more academic books occasionally, but my sweet spot is somewhere in the middle.

Lately I’ve been interested in reading books about Israel/Palestine and LGBT experiences. I also want to read more books by Asian authors.

The blog post I’ve worked the hardest on is:

Wrestling with Zion by Tony Kushner and Alisa Solomon – 2003 collection of essays by American Jews critical of Israel. Reading and reviewing this was a whole journey and it’s really just the beginning of a complicated issue I want to continue researching.

Some of my favorite books I’ve reviewed here are:

The Vegetarian by Han Kang – a Korean woman goes vegan and the people around her lose their minds (then she loses hers too). A meditation on the violence and necessity of eating and of consumption in general.

Enemy Mine by Barry B. Longyear – a soldier from Earth and a lacertian (lizard-like) soldier crash-land on a planet during a battle and become close friends.

The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells – a scientist turns himself invisible and arouses the suspicion of English country people.

Wraeththu by Storm Constantine – gender-bending gothic fantasy-romance

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy – important book that demonstrates how not all parents are good parents. Well-written but triggering.

I Rise: The Transformation of Toni Newman – best trans memoir I’ve read so far, very down-to-earth and positive.

My most popular book review is:

No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai – a novel about a young Japanese man’s depression. Google’s algorithm really likes this one; I get about ten hits on it a day.

My partner’s book (that I edited!):

The Light in Front of Me by Aria Howell – sword and sorcery fantasy novel with lesbian, trans, and nonbinary characters.

My cousin’s book (that I helped edit):

The Invisible Hiker by Kira Harland – a vulnerable and funny memoir of hiking the gorgeous John Muir Trail with IBS.

Twitter: @sbhowell63

Email: sbhowell63@gmail.com